Culture Focus on photography
Maretta Dillon previews what’s on in the arts around the country in the next few months
The Dancers by Barbara Morgan
Photography is front and centre with two exhibitions currently running in Dublin. Moment in Time at the National Gallery of Ireland is a collection of photographs drawn from Bank of America's renowned collection featuring iconic images by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Dorothea Lange, Man Ray and many others. There are overlapping themes including people, documentary and nature. The beautiful images of leaves and landscapes by Ansel Adams are particularly lovely. The National Gallery has only begun to show photography exhibitions, but the lively education and learning programme provides context and perspective. (at nationalgallery.ie until Mar 22). At the same time and sharing some of the same photographers is Ireland in Focus: Photographing the 1950s at the National Museum at Collins' Barracks. These images record a very different country that looks strange and oddly exotic. For more see museum.ie/decorative-arts-history.
The 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth is in 2020 so expect celebrations at all turns. No laggard, Galway's Midwinter Festival is to focus primarily on Beethoven's early solo piano and chamber music compositions. A performance of Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata, straying into the master's glorious middle period is a highlight from internationally celebrated duo team of Russian violinist Alina Ibragimova and French pianist Cédric Tiberghien. What a treat – see musicforgalway.ie for more information and booking.
Derek Jarman, enfant terrible of British cinema as well as artist and gardener, enjoys a significant retrospective at IMMA this year. Derek Jarman PROTEST! captures Jarman’s engagement with both art and society, as well as his contemporary concerns with political protest and personal freedoms arising from the AIDS crisis. A selection of film work will also screen at the Irish Film Institute. Jarman’s artistic vision remains highly influential, and this is a welcome opportunity for assessment. (See imma.ie and ifi.ie for more details).
Two festivals returning in the New Year are First Fortnight which features events, talks, film and theatre to challenge and explore our mental health. See firstfortnight.ie and find something where you are. At the end of January, Tradfest in Temple Bar has assembled an exciting line up of musicians including Maria Doyle Kennedy, Séamus Begley & Oisín Mac Diarmaida with Samantha Harvey / Brona McVittie and many more.
Finally, our very own Saoirse Ronan plays Jo March in a new film of the perennial favourite, Little Women. This new film is the sixth adaptation of the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott, but presumably, director Greta Gerwig who worked so well with Ronan in Lady Bird feels she has something to add.
64 Senior Times l January - February 2020 l www.seniortimes.ie
From Dec 26 nationwide.
